Seales shines but Sussex draw with Northants

HOVE, England (CMC):

Rookie West Indies pacer Jayden Seales inspired a stellar effort by Sussex to force a win, but Northamptonshire were left thanking bad light after coming away with a draw in their County Championship clash here yesterday.

Securing a handsome first-innings lead of 107 after stretching their overnight 351 for six to 478 for nine declared, Sussex then quickly rocked the visitors’ second innings with the 22-year-old Seales (2-32) knocking over both openers.

Tottering on 57 for four Northamptonshire recovered through Rob Keogh (55) and captain Luke Proctor (41) before the innings collapsed again. However, with a possible victory on the cards, Sussex were frustrated by the gloomy conditions, which forced umpires to call time on the contest with the innings in dire straits at 170 for nine.

Fynn Hudson-Prentice converted his overnight 59 into 78, while his partner, Danny Lamb, added only three to his 38 at the start, but it was number nine Jack Carson’s breezy 61 off 53 deliveries which ensured Sussex dominated the opening session.

He struck five fours and three sixes and put on a crucial 61 for the eighth wicket with Hudson-Prentice and a further 40 for the ninth wicket with Ollie Robinson (32).

Staring at a tricky deficit, Northants were set back before lunch when Seales got Justin Broad to push tentatively at a full-length delivery and edge to third slip without scoring in his opening over.

On 14 for one at the break, the visitors were put under even more pressure on the resumption when Seales removed the off-stump of left-handed opener Emilio Gay for 20 in the fifth over.

Keogh, who struck nine fours in a 67-ball knock, combined with Proctor, whose patient 111-ball stay included five fours, in a 73-run, fifth-wicket stand to halt the decline.

However, once Proctor was leg before wicket to off-spinner Jack Carson (2-52), Northants lost five wickets for 38 runs before the weather rescued them.